FINDING INSPIRATION FROM THE BBC

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This is part of the Flying Sister’s Blog Circle – follow it around to find out what movies other women found inspirational.  Mine is not a movie, but a documentary series that I have watched more than once!

POWER OF ART is a BBC documentary series by Simon Schama, a professor of art and history at Columbia University.  In his own words”

“This is not a series about things that hang on walls, it is not about decor and prettiness.  It is a series about the force, the need, the passion of art – 

….the power of art.”

“Great art has dreadful manners”

“The hushed reverence of the gallery can fool you into believing masterpieces are polite things; visions that soothe, charm and beguile, but actually they are thugs. Merciless and wily, the greatest paintings grab you in a headlock, rough up your composure, and then proceed in short order to re-arrange your sense of reality.”

He then takes us on an amazing journey,  highlighting eight masterpieces, from Caravaggio’s David and Goliath to Picasso’s Guernica. He takes you into the lives of eight great artists, each who faced a crisis and created masterpieces that changed the way we look at both art and the world.

Sometimes told in a “wink wink, nudge nudge”way, you feel as you really get to know each artist and thus understand their world.

Each of the eight episodes examines the biography, the world and a key work with some reenactments:

  • Carvaggio – David and the Head of Goliath
  • Bernini – The Ecstacy of Saint Teresa
  • Rembrandt – The Conspiracy of Claudius Civilis
  • David – The Death of Marat
  • Turner – The Slave Ship
  • van Gogh – Wheatfields and Crows
  • Picasso – Guernica
  • Rothko – Black on Maroon

Why did I find this series so inspirational?

Take a look at the works below. With the first installment, it begins with an artist – Caravaggio – leaving Rome because he killed a man, I was hooked.  The “wink wink” style of storytelling even called Rembrandt “Mr. Cleverclogs”.

DAVID AND GOLIATH by Caravaggio.  The head of Goliath is a self portrait.

DAVID AND GOLIATH by Caravaggio. The head of Goliath is a self portrait.

do you see the ecstasy?

Bernini

 

this is only a 5th of what is left

Rembrandt
After he slashed the painting, this is only a fifth of the original work – all that is left

 

Van Gogh

Van Gogh

 

 

Picasso

Guernica
Picasso

 

the death of marat

David
The Death of Marat

JMW Turner  Slave Ship

JMW Turner
Slave Ship

Rothko

Rothko
Black on Maroon

This series simply made me want to learn MORE!  Below is a small snippet from the Rembrandt episode.

 


Now, follow the Flying Sisters blog circle around to see other inspirational works.  Next up is Lulu Bea – click here to see her inspiration movie!  Enjoy your journey.

PS – this is available on Netflix and YouTube

 

 

7 thoughts on “FINDING INSPIRATION FROM THE BBC

  1. Michelle

    Well, how cool is this? As I learn more and more about Artists from the past, I feel better and better about my quirky self. And that I’m really not “so crazy”. Afterall, I’m in really good company with all my Flyer Sisters. <3

  2. Leanne Chesser

    I love your statement: “He takes you into the lives of eight great artists, each who faced a crisis and created masterpieces that changed the way we look at both art and the world.” That’s really powerful. I wrote poetry during a significant healing time in my life . . . I suppose this is similar. When art comes from those raw, real places within, they speak to others and can impact how we see things. Very cool.

  3. Deborah Weber

    Thanks for the hedz up – I’ve added it to my queue. It sounds like a powerful exploration and it certainly covers some magnificent works. I can’t wait to dig in and be transported. And how fun to be part of a blog circle playing with such a fun topic!

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